Westminster City School is a Christian foundation secondary school for boys with a mixed sixth form in Westminster, London. The school has 700 pupils in the lower school with a further 120 students in the Sixth Form. It offers places each year to boys of Christian faith, other world faiths, and those of no faith. The current Headmaster is James Wilson.
The school became an academy in 2012. In January 2013, Ofsted rated it "good" in all aspects and in some ways outstanding.
For some social and competitive purposes, pupils are grouped into "houses". The names have also been used for school buildings. They represent some of the historic charity schools in Westminster.
Dacre's: Commemorating the foundation of Lady Anne Dacre, who died in 1595 and whose executors established Emanuel Hospital, incorporated by Queen Elizabeth I in 1601.Hill: Retaining the name of the school established in 1647 by Mr Emery Hill, a churchwarden in the parish of St Margaret's, Westminster.Kings: In 1633 Charles I granted a Charter of Incorporation for the education of poor boys and girls in Westminster which was aided annually by King Charles II.Palmer's: Continuing the tradition of the school provided in 1645 by Revd James Palmer of the parish of St Margaret's Westminster.St Margaret’s: Arising from the St Margaret’s Hospital, established by the churchwardens of St Margaret’s in 1624.Waterlow: Commemorating Sir Sydney Waterlow, the Lord Mayor of London, who was elected the first Chairman of Governors in 1873 and filled his post with enthusiasm and distinction for over a quarter of a century.140 boys are admitted in each year group, arranged in six forms. Each form is named after one of the six houses of the school and is known by the initial letter of the house name. A form tutor is assigned to each group and will have oversight of each pupil’s well-being and academic progress. The form tutor is the primary point of contact between parents and the school.
The charters and foundations of several historic charity schools were by Act of Parliament in 1873 incorporated into the Grey Coat Hospital Foundation and United Westminster Schools (UWS) Foundation. UWS comprised the Westminster City School and Emanuel School, Wandsworth; The Grey Coat Hospital Foundation comprised the Grey Coat Hospital, Westminster and Queen Anne's School, Caversham. In 1910 The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers transferred the Sutton Valence School in Kent into UWS.
The school is amalgamation of the former Brown Coat, Green Coat and Black Coat schools. Key dates in its history are:
1590: Lady Dacre petitions Queen Elizabeth I for a Royal Charter for a Hospital in "this City of Westminster" and to provide “instruction of certain boys and girls"1601: Queen Elizabeth grants Order of Incorporation for Emmanuel Hospital1624: Green Coat School Westminster opened1633: Charter of King Charles I for St Margaret's Hospital1654: A hospital along with almshouses and a school is founded by Rev. James Palmer in Westminster1671: Following a period of closure Palmer's school is reopened as The Black Coat School1677: Bequest of benefactor Emery Hill to the Brown Coat School1688: Blue Coat School founded1698: Grey Coat Hospital founded1706: Queen Anne granted a Royal Charter to Grey Coat Hospital1728: Accommodation for children added at St. Margaret’s Hospital1736: Brown Coat School formally opened1847: Brown Coat school numbers increased to 601870: Elementary education for all provided by an Act of Parliament1873: Following a vote in Parliament, Queen Victoria approved amalgamation under United Westminster Schools1874: The school was formally opened.1874: Mr Goffin appointed Head of amalgamated schools1876: The ‘Foundation stone’ was laid in Palace Street by Sir Sydney Waterlow1877: The new school building was opened by the Dean of Westminster, Dean Stanley.1888: Pupil numbers increased to a maximum 8501890: School officially named Westminster City School1900: London County Council placed a statue of Sir Sydney in Waterlow Park.1901: The sculptor Frank Taubman placed a copy of the statue of Sir Sydney in front of the school.1906: First issue of School Magazine1908: Creation of House system along with Prefects1908: Old Westminster Citizen's Association and Football Club launched1909: New Assembly Hall opened along with other improved accommodation1910: Governors obtain lease of playing fields in Turney Road, Dulwich1914–1918: School life continued although there were many fatalities amongst Old Boys1918: Education Act gives Westminster City ‘Grammar' school status1922: Memorial to Old Boys killed in the War opened in the vestibule1924: Grand Pageant organised to celebrate the Jubilee of the Foundation, St. Margaret's Hospital tercentenary and the anniversary of Lady Dacre's bequest1931: School Orchestra filmed by Pathe News and shown in cinemas across the country1934: Mitcham pavilion opened and sports activities moved from Dulwich1934: Number of school houses reduced from eight to four1936: School gym opened1937: Seven boys chosen for the Westminster Abbey choir at the Coronation of King George VI1939: Outbreak of the Second World War – School evacuated to Tonbridge, Kent area, amalgamating with the Judd School1940: Westminster City School badly damaged in an air raid. The school suffered bomb damage to its building in Palace Street during the Blitz.1944: School moved from Tonbridge to Exmouth1945: With the end of the War, School re-assembles in Westminster with numbers now down to 3501949: Inspectors praised academic achievements but were disturbed by the condition of the bomb battered building1951: Appointment of Mr. R Fern as Headmaster and GCE Ordinary Levels (O Levels) and GCE Advanced Levels (A Levels) introduced1953: The Choir were well represented at the Coronation of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II1957: Work commences on new laboratories over the School Hall1958: Golden Jubilee Year of the Old Westminster Citizens’ Association and School used as a location for the film Inn of the Sixth Happiness starring Ingrid Bergman1963: 330th anniversary of the Charles I Charter celebrated with a service at St. Margaret's church attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother who visited the school after the service1965: University places gained reached all-time high of 481968: Nine Elms relocation first mooted1970: Opening of Pimlico Comprehensive provokes fears that WCS may become redundant1971: Nine Elms project to move the School submitted for planning consent1973: Centenary of United Westminster Schools celebrated with a world premiére of "Westminster Psalms" by Carl Bontoft1975: Nine Elms project abandoned. John White appointed Headmaster1977: Westminster City School celebrates 100 years at Palace Street and becomes a four form entry mixed ability comprehensive school1980: New squash courts get go ahead1981: Building fund appeal launched – First School Association science evening1983: Westminster City School and its Origins – by R.Carrington is published1985: School play Sergeant Musgrove's Dance transfers to the Edinburgh Festival1991: School financial pressures cause widespread redundancies and cuts1997: School placed in Special measures1999: School released from special measures2001: New science block completed2002: School presents acclaimed play on the life of Edward the Confessor at Westminster Abbey2004: A teacher was raped by a pupil in an empty classroom after the end of classes. The student involved was sent to prison and the teacher eventually won compensatory damages and legal costs from the school.2008: The Trouble With You Boy Is You Don’t Like Latin! A Century of History and Memories, written and compiled by Chris Hare is published2008: Work commences on transformation of school following the 'Building Schools for the Future' bid by Westminster City Council2009: School buildings are refurbished and new modern buildings are completed2009: School became a Specialist Science College2012: Secretary of State for Education approved its academy converters application.Mr REH Goffin 1874 – 1906Dr Stevens 1906 – 1930Mr JC Dent 1930 – 1950Mr RJ Fearn 1951 – 1954Dr GR Shutt 1955 – 1966Mr S Allder 1966 – 1972Mr JH White 1973 – 1983Mr D Garvie 1983 – 1988Mr J Noakes 1988 – 1992Mr M Billingham 1992 – 1995Mr J Harding 1995 – 1998Mr R Tanton 1998 – 2002Mr D Maloney 2002 – 2013Mr J Wilson 2014 – presentThe Association of Old Boys of Westminster City School aims to keep Old Boys from around the world informed and in touch. Started in 1908, it maintains close links with the School and through its Trust Fund provides finance to support a number of activities and projects.
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